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I have a few thoughts about the comments made by ESPN broadcaster a well-known announcer after Novak Djokovic's win over the American player during the US Open last eight. Consider – Fritz is American, the commentator is from the US – and sports often encourage patriotic sentiment. Some letdown was understandable. Instead, Fowler brought up the ongoing absence of US male players at grand slam tournaments: none of them had lifted a trophy since the last American champion in 2003, and he had been the final representative in the tournament.

Everyone love a narrative, me too. But really. Even if the American had beaten Djokovic for the first time, force of nature the Spanish star was waiting in the next round, whom Fritz has never defeated in an official match. And had he someway gotten past that, it would have been title holder the Italian, versus him the American had lost 10 of the previous eleven sets. The two young stars had also split the last seven major titles (and Alcaraz went on to defeat a fatigued Djokovic in the next round). He stated in post-match interviews after the loss that he in fact liked his path, because it presented the chance to beat the three best competitors in the world in succession. He is well within his right to aspire to the achievement; an competitor is meant to have faith in themselves. But going into that Djokovic last eight match what other person sensibly had the lack of US winners in mind?

Coco Gauff’s weaker delivery the only thing standing in her way and consistent victories

The American, twenty-eight, is placed number four in the world starting this week’s ATP World Tour Finals and has secured his previous six matches over third-ranked the German with increasing ease. It's likely he might claim that position for himself in the coming years. But evidently that right now, that is as far as he can climb: Sinner and Alcaraz lie a vast gap of performance metrics away. Fritz’s elite serve and powerful power on both front side and reverse side are sufficiently adequate to defeat the majority of opponents on the professional circuit. Against the handful of generational talents, however, Fritz is often helpless. The last several seasons has witnessed the interesting rise of tall, gangly athletes who can nonetheless cover the court with the alarming speed and grace of much shorter men. Fritz is six-foot-five and looks it. His footwork is stiff, as if he hasn't fully adapted to his legs. So he seldom steal a point that the other player was dictating, and playing a drop shot versus him is typically a safe bet. That acts as a quite harsh limitation on his upside.

The American has achieved a several dramatic, improbable advancements over the years. Early on of the ten-year period, he was circling the lower end of the top 30. 24 months after, he was approaching the elite ten. Last year, he suddenly surged to fourth place – and maintained the position. But the next leap, competing against and beating all-time-greats like Alcaraz, Sinner, and including a declining Djokovic, is the highest of all. What was Fowler have been thinking? That the American, in 2025, was a serious threat to beat them all back-to-back? That it was worth commenting on the continuing drought of US male players lifting major titles when he had departed the New York major in the quarter-finals? The thirst is simply too much and the appreciation for the magnitude of the task too little.

The American star achieved a career-best run to the All England Club semi-finals in July.

Fritz’s performance in that exact quarter-final should have been sufficient of an sign. The Serbian triumphed in four rounds, a victory that only seemed tenuous for moments towards the conclusion, when the American had saved a few match points and had a opportunity to maintain serve for 5-5. The pair looked evenly matched during the exchanges, with the American creating plenty of chances to win the opponent's serve. But Djokovic saved break point after service break opportunity, prolonging the run to the point of frustration. When Fritz finally did convert a single of the chances at 5-5 in the second set, he promptly played a horrendous game to drop serve once more; Djokovic had drawn him into a battle peripheral to the real battle and forced him to use excessive energy to win it. Facing set points in the last game, Fritz’s primary delivery floated to the sky. He prolonged the contest two times on his second serve, but ultimately committed two errors. It wasn’t a collapse, in my opinion, only a consequence of having to hit too many second serves.

The contest was quite compelling proof that Fritz is not good enough to defeat any form of the Serbian, who was defeated by Alcaraz in the following match and did not particularly seem like he thought he could win. This is absolutely acceptable – the Serbian is the best player ever, and might not be at the height of his physical powers anymore, but has acquired sufficient knowledge and tactical know-how to make up for quite a bit of the drop-off. The problem is those who were expecting Fritz to prevail, and putting pressure on him to do so, when he was yet to accomplished anything that indicated he could.

Fritz is an valuable contributor to the tour nonetheless. He’s a calm, reflective presence in media sessions, more so than almost anyone on the men's tour aside from Daniil Medvedev, prepared to not only express his emotions or the tactic he felt determined a match, but clarify it. That he ought to shoulder the majority of the responsibility for the United States failing to spawn a men's grand slam winner since Andy Roddick seems unjust. (Since the fellow American is competing alongside him in the standings, maybe they can divide that load.)

ATP Finals: Player Divisions

Jimmy Connors Group

• The Spanish phenom
• The American contender
• Alex de Minaur (Aus)
• Lorenzo Musetti (It)

Bjorn Borg Division

• The Italian champion
• Alexander Zverev (Ger)
• The rising American
• Félix Auger-Aliassime (Can)

“I’d probably dwell on it forever if I don’t do it,” the American informed an interviewer in June of claiming a grand slam. It is hoped he understands that he’s not unsuccessful if he doesn’t fulfill that goal, that overcoming the Spanish and Italian's dominant, formidable reign is in fact highly unlikely for all other players. {